DameAgnes Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Refusing to suffer is refusing to live - by a young lady in a wheelchair. http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Refusing-to-Suffer-Is-Refusing-to-Live-Zimmerman-02-09-2011.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I guess I must agree with that since I choose against using pain killers stronger than tylenol for a pain situation that keeps many people bed ridden. I think we become so afraid of pain, or discomfort even, that we numb ourselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I have significant issues with my muscles. If the choice is between being in pain or staying in bed, I choose the pain, although a really good movie on a cold day can be tempting. Or sometimes if I going to do something that is really gonna hurt, I clear my schedule for the next day or two afterwards when I won't be able to move. Whether you suffer or not is not always a choice, but your response to it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytherese Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 With such a misunderstanding about suffering no wonder so many people lean towards believing in euthanasia. I know that JP2 brought that up in Evangelium Vitae. I found reading Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer, which is a compilation of ten personal stories by Catholics who have gone through a great deal of suffering such as childhood sexual abuse by a family member, being born paralyzed, and a family who's daughter was murdered during her paper route, just to name a few, and yet they were transformed by the experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 [quote name='tinytherese' timestamp='1297399645' post='2211261'] With such a misunderstanding about suffering no wonder so many people lean towards believing in euthanasia. I know that JP2 brought that up in Evangelium Vitae. I found reading Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer, which is a compilation of ten personal stories by Catholics who have gone through a great deal of suffering such as childhood sexual abuse by a family member, being born paralyzed, and a family who's daughter was murdered during her paper route, just to name a few, and yet they were transformed by the experiences. [/quote] Such experiences either transform you or destroy you, but you are never ever the same. I find the argument that you must kill someone to prevent them from suffering inhuman. You do your best to relieve unneccesary pain but to remove suffering altogether is to remove the opportunity to be transformed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePenciledOne Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 For the record, I think pain is subjective. Now I am not saying that suffering is a bad thing or whatever, as long as it's offered in the right way. My own Mother suffers MS and she is in constant pain so much that often she wishes she could die. The only thing that keeps her going is my brother and I, thank God. Somehow she still has faith despite her struggle with MS, and there are so many times I wish I could take it away from her. Those that have faith can bear pain, while pain often (mostly physical pain) does not give faith to those that do not have as strong a faith. It takes Grace. I am not trying to start anything, only trying to bring another perspective, and since the fact that my Mother suffers a lot. Though I do agree with what the author of the article is saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytherese Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I find that offering up your pain can be helpful in handling it. That way you know that your suffering is going to good use. Prayer at Fatima that Our Lady Taught the Three Visionary Children: "Oh Jesus, it is for the love of thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selah Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Pain is a teacher And a healer. I agree that refusing to suffer is really hurting us. We refuse to grow and learn and get better. We refuse to be compassionate...which someone so nicely put on here several monthis ago, compassion can be called "suffering with." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKolbe Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Interestingly, you find a similar pathology in those non-denoms who preach/live the Prosperity Gospel. Shea and I were watching 'minute to win it' and these 2 friends were doing real well. The father of one of them was a pastor (i believe). Their 'mantra' was 'Too Blessed To Be Stressed'. Yeah, it was catchy and all rhymie, but that's about it. Too many people (imho) think a personal relationship with God equates solely to material or material-ish blessings. Gosh, I wonder if Our Lady was thinking she was 'Too Blessed To Be Stressed' when she saw her Son nailed to the Cross..... iono... sorry for the rant and quasi-hijack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Therese Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 (edited) Fr Jacques Phiippe, Priest and author of "Interior Freedom", "Time for God", "In the School of the Holy Spirit", "Searching for and Maintaining Inner Peace" and "Called to Life" has much wisdom to offer here. I've linked below a summary page that has a few short quotes of his on the topic of suffering: [url="http://www.frjacquesphilippe.com/themes/suffering.html"]http://www.frjacques.../suffering.html[/url] I think the advice he offers here is as useful and relevant for emotional suffering as it is for physical. >> BTW - if you haven't read any of his books, try and get a hold of one of them. Absolutely worth it. Edited February 11, 2011 by Catherine Therese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piccoli Fiori JMJ Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 +JMJ I know I need to get better at handling pain... I honestly have a fear of doing something that would be painful (like willingly pricking myself with a needle). For the longest time, I refused any kind of pain killers, but now I find sometimes I need something to help take the edge off, otherwise I find myself puking because of the pain--although this is rare. I need to learn to suffer better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dairygirl4u2c Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 this thread, along with the vibe of much of phatmass, reminded me of that rapping priest from a few years back. 'everybody got to suffer' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWH_6NY4a90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherie Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 [quote name='FutureNunJMJ' timestamp='1297434358' post='2211327'] I need to learn to suffer better. [/quote] Don't think that just because you use a painkiller to "take the edge off" means you aren't suffering well! Not using pain relief doesn't necessarily mean one is suffering well. What of those who don't take any medication, yet they complain often, or pity themselves, or feel self-righteous, or can't complete obligatory work they otherwise could if they would only take some Tylenol? There is some pain that is beyond medication, and of course there can be unwanted side effects associated with certain painkillers. It is every person's prerogative to either take or refuse painkillers. But just because a person takes a painkiller does not mean they are not suffering well; we naturally seek relief from suffering. Our Lord Himself had pity on those who were suffering, and hence He healed them of their infirmities. However some people were not healed, and some people cannot receive the relief they seek. For these situations we must look to Our Lord who suffered on the Cross, and offer up our suffering in union with His. Suffering comes in many ways; we all have to deal with it often in our lives, whether it be physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual. I think the key is, instead of focusing on whether or not we seek relief, we should always offer our suffering up in union with the suffering Christ, and be grateful to God for any relief we may receive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrestia Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Word. What about allowing others to suffer? I sometimes wonder where the line should be drawn. I'm not talking about "euthanasia" or other forms of murder. I'm wondering about things like giving money to beggars on the corner, or paying off credit card debt for an irresponsible child. Could generosity lead to dependency? When is it better to allow someone else to suffer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piccoli Fiori JMJ Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 [quote name='CherieMadame' timestamp='1297450989' post='2211402'] Don't think that just because you use a painkiller to "take the edge off" means you aren't suffering well! [/quote] Well, I meant that in general, not just in matters of pain-killers... I'm a sucker when I'm hungry and desserts always get me... its the little things I have trouble suffering through, although I am working on building up my 'resistance.' I very much understand what you are saying, and I wholeheartedly agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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